This post examines a correction to a seminal paper by Oxford University scientists Poore and Nemecek on the environmental footprints of food. It shows that, of all the products we make, including the massive amounts of cement and steel used for construction, beef is categorically responsible for the most GHGs, by a very wide margin. Continue reading A mammoth adjustment to beef’s carbon footprint
Globally, we produce way less beef compared to steel and cement and yet the beef industry’s total carbon footprint is as large* as that of the other two industries. This is because the carbon footprint of beef, per kg of product, eclipses virtually everything else on the planet. The “carbon footprint multiplier” for beef is 100 while for cement and steel it’s around 0.8 and 2, respectively. While plans are in progress to decarbonize cement and steel, we need to put beef in perspective.
*It’s actually a lot larger if we factor in carbon sequestration on land formerly used for beef.
Continue reading Perspective on the carbon footprints of steel, cement, and beef
I’m taking a look at Bill Gates’s 2021 book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. His book is full of useful information and hopefully has inspired changes in policy. Unfortunately, last week, Bill did the opposite of his own advice. My main issue with the book is that it downplays actions that we can take as individuals and consumers. Continue reading What Bill Gates missed in How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
Bill Gates published a blog post last week, titled Three tough truths about climate (A new way to look at the problem). He argues that we need to continue funding programs that tackle poverty and health (fine!) but that these funds should come at the expense of programs to mitigate climate change, which he claims won’t be so bad. I look into his motivation for such a misguided proposal that does nothing for the Global South. Continue reading Bill Gates’s new view on climate change is irrational
A concern with any third-party certification is that it will sell out to some extent. B Corp risked ruining its good reputation by certifying Nespresso. All things considered, is B Corp certification a good indication of sustainability? Continue reading Does B Corp certified mean ethical?
A group of writers and data scientists, nicknamed the New Optimists, have been communicating on how life has improved in many ways. Poverty and violence are down while longevity and health have improved significantly, especially in recent decades. Pros and cons of an optimistic perspective are discussed. Continue reading Should we listen to the New Optimists?
Last year, scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab reported that the carbon footprint of plastic production is around 2.2 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalents. That’s more than double previous estimates, amounting to more than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the plastics industry continues to grow at the current rate, it will be one of the biggest drivers of climate change by 2050. Continue reading The astonishing carbon footprint of plastic production
I will examine the science on whether third-party certifications such as the Marine Stewardship Council, Friend of the Sea and Fair Trade are helpful for consumers seeking responsibly-caught seafood. However, before we look to certifications there are two other important factors that we should consider. Continue reading Are seafood certifications useful? Consider these two steps first!
Industrial agriculture threatens soil integrity and biodiversity. It exacerbates the biggest threat to agriculture – climate change – and also our susceptibility to that threat. Organic agriculture, on the other hand, has lower crop yields and therefore requires more land. So, what’s it to be? Continue reading Certified organic: Should we really support it?
Certifications by reputable, independent organizations are extremely important when governments don’t value the environment and allow corporations to run amok. Certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is designed to assure consumers that forestry-related products are produced without causing environmental damage. But is FSC certification effective? Continue reading An evaluation of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification
The Green Stars Project 